News

Woman in historic rape case challenged as liar

A 28-YEAR-OLD woman who was allegedly repeatedly raped as a child more than twenty years ago sobbed when she gave evidence from behind a curtain at Gloucester Crown Court.
She told a jury of seven men and five women on Thursday that 61-year-old Stephen Smith of Ty Mawr, Llanbydder, Carmarthenshire had raped her and beaten her regularly between 1992 and 1996.
The alleged offences are said to have taken place in Nailsworth and in Wales.
But defence barrister Jane Rowley suggested that the woman was telling a ‘blatant lie’ about being raped.
“Most people who have been raped a number of times by the same man will always remember the first time but you have never given any details at all about it,” said the barrister in cross-examination.
“You haven’t said whether it hurt, whether you were bleeding, whether Mr Smith had an erection - no details whatsoever.
“You reported being physically abused by the defendant in 1998 but you never mentioned sexual abuse despite being questioned by the police and social services.
“You were examined by a doctor at the time and no physical injuries were detected and the authorities told you that you were a liar.
“Wouldn’t you have said that you had also been raped. You didn’t mention sexual abuse because it was a lie?”
The alleged victim said, “I didn’t want to say anything about it - I was only a child and I didn’t even know what sex was.”
Smith is accused of repeatedly raping and indecently assaulting two girls aged from six to nine and to indecently assaulting and being cruel to a 12 year old boy.
The alleged offences against the two girls occurred between May 1976 and May 1982 and between April 1992 and April 1996 respectively.
The alleged offences against the boy occurred between July 1977 and July 1982.
Smith denies all six counts of sexual and physical abuse of the youngsters. nearly 40 years ago in the Nailsworth area of Gloucestershire and later in West Wales.
As well as being sexually abusive he is alleged to have beaten the three young victims with a leather belt.
The trial continues.